Chef in white top and apron stands in a kitchen with someone stirring a pot in background
Cris Cohen has announced the closure of Feasted and the Chef’s Table in Stoke-on-Trent.
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Sadness as innovative Stoke-on-Trent dining experience to close 

2 mins read

Head chef and award-winning entrepreneur Cris Cohen is to close his business Feasted and Chef’s Table dining experience in Stoke-on-Trent. 

Known for using food to tell the stories of the city and its people, he has also collaborated with community groups and taught cookery skills and personal development. 

But now, Cris has decided to pause the business to explore consultancy opportunities in the coming months. However, he still plans to offer occasional dining events in North Staffordshire. 

Feasted at Spode will close immediately, and anyone with outstanding vouchers is asked to get in touch. Customers with valid vouchers will be offered places at pop-up dining experiences, which are set to announced.  

Cris, who was named the University of Staffordshire’s Entrepreneur of the Year last year, said: “I need to pursue other opportunities, and I am fortunate enough to have offers available. 

“We’ll offer occasional dining experiences that allow us to flex and change, keeping things fresh. We will announce this in the next few weeks. 

“It is an incredibly hard decision but one that has to be made in the current financial climate. Feasted has been both a labour of love and a unique experiment in what can be achieved if we aim high. It has broken the mould in the Stoke-on-Trent food scene. 

“We have changed perceptions of how food is presented in our city and attracted people from across the UK and beyond to sit at the chef’s table.” 

Feasted’s menus were often created to reflect the Potteries and have included dishes themed around clay and ceramics, local legends and folklore and winter classic the Box of Delights. Typically, just 10 diners would gather at the Chef’s Table in the historic Spode Works in Stoke. 

Cris said: “I created the Chef’s Table to elevate perceptions of dining in a forgotten city. We celebrated Stoke-on-Trent’s heritage, crafting dishes that defined our city. I encouraged my team to aspire – something often overlooked in post-industrial cities like ours – and I am incredibly proud of what we achieved. 

“Diners watched our chefs prepare each dish and could ask questions about techniques and what we were aiming to achieve.” 

Feasted’s journey began when former teacher Cris posted on social media to gauge interest in soup and bread. Just four people responded, but that modest start launched a path to high-class ‘Feast at Home’ menus, culminating in the opening of the Chef’s Table in 2022. 

In the autumn last year, Cris also made the decision to close his newest venue Stock on the High Street in Newcastle. 

At the business’s height, Cris employed 18 people, the majority of them based at Stock and many of them were on a part-time basis.

Cris has confirmed he has followed a consultation process with regards to job losses and that he hopes the ‘brilliant people’ from his team will be working with him as he moves forward.

There is no suggestion that the closure of Feasted will have any impact on the organisation of the bi-monthly food festival The Feast, which was first held in November.

The UK’s dining and hospitality sector is currently facing significant challenges, with even big names such as Marco Pierre White, Michel Roux Jr, Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti, Simon Rimmer and Tom Brown all announcing recent closures, highlighting concerns about national insurance contributions and VAT. 

But Daily Focus has also reported today that a new fine dining restaurant is set to open in Lichfield soon. Click here to read more.

Hannah Hiles

A journalist and comms professional with an eye for a story, Hannah has more than 20 years' experience in news, features and PR in Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

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